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Michigan's backup goalies better have made the most of the 40 minutes they each played in last Friday's Blue/White intrasquad exhibition.
Because if this season is anything like the last, the duo of sophomore Noah Ruden and freshman Mike Meyhew will hardly see any time on the ice this year.
Sophomore Al Montoya
started all 43 games in net last year, while Ruden appeared for less than 60
minutes total.
"Being a backup goalie is a tough role," Michigan coach Red Berenson
said. "I've seen it where they don't get a lot of opportunities to play
in a game. And I've seen it where our No. 1 goalie gets injured, and then suddenly
they've got to be our starting goalie for half a year. You never know."
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Berenson is referring to the 1999-2000 season, when all three Michigan goaltenders saw significant action. That season, Kevin O'Malley and L.J. Scarpace played well in starter Josh Blackburn's absence, and Michigan managed to win the CCHA title.
"If there's an injury or something unexpected happens, they need to be ready," Berenson said. "For example, if we lose Montoya for the World Juniors at Christmas time, who's going to play in the (Great Lakes Invitational)? Who's going to start in the championship game against Michigan State in front of 18,000 people? Who's ready to take that and run with it?
"We're in September now, but those are the things that are down the road."
Ruden understands his role as the backup, and realizes how vital it is.
"It's more difficult I think to get prepared the right way when you're the backup," Ruden said. "All week Mike and I get in our work, but then it's not easy to be ready during a game if Al gets hurt, God forbid. Ticketmaster
"We work hard to show the coaches we're getting better. The coaches pay attention to us and see how hard we work and how prepared we are in case anything happens."
Icers tabbed No. 2 in polls: If the Wolverines perform up to preseason expectations, then fans can expect them to overcome their stumbling block the past three years: The Frozen Four semifinal.
Michigan is ranked No. 2 in both the USA Today/American Hockey Magazine and U.S. College Hockey Online polls.
Two-time defending champion Minnesota, which eliminated the Wolverines in the Frozen Four the past two seasons, is ranked No. 1 in both polls.
Three other CCHA teams -- Ferris State, Michigan State and Ohio State -- appear in both polls. Ticketmaster
Berenson is glad Michigan is ranked so high, but noted, "We expect to be one of the best teams. That's our goal, and now we need to prove that."